Ryan Meili to seek NDP nomination for Saskatoon Meewasin byelection

Saskatoon doctor and public health advocate Ryan Meili has announced he’ll seek the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party nomination in the Saskatoon Meewasin byelection.

Meili, who unsuccessfully ran twice for the NDP leadership in 2009 and 2012, made his intentions known in a public Facebook post on Thursday.

“I’ve been involved as a physician and an advocate for a long time trying to push for a healthier Saskatchewan and a healthier overall Canada,” he said.

“It’s clear to me that if we want a healthier society, we need to be addressing the social determinants of health. Those factors — income, education, housing and food security — those are really the stuff of public policy.”

The Saskatoon Meewasin seat became vacant after the death of Saskatchewan Party MLA Roger Parent on Nov. 29. Meili is now taking steps to determine if a bid is possible, calling Parent’s death a “tragic loss” for Saskatchewan.

Kathy Young, chief of operations and communications for Premier Brad Wall, said the Saskatchewan Party government looks forward to the upcoming race “and will have a strong Saskatchewan Party candidate and a vigorously contested byelection in the coming months.”

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Meili said he sees getting politically involved as an extension “of the values that brought me into medicine.” He hopes to further those values to “help improve the lives of more people” on a larger scale, as he’ll focus on what he feels are shortcomings by government in the fields of health care and poverty, he said.

“We need to see better management and better focus on what matters most,” Meili said, noting his aim is on the nomination, not a third bid for leadership. He called support from White “absolutely essential,” as she set groundwork in the riding for the NDP.

Daniel Béland, Canada Research Chair at the University of Saskatchewan’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, said it will be an interesting race, because if Meili — who Béland called a “prominent figure” on Saskatchewan’s left — wins the nomination, it will put pressure on the Sask. Party to put up a high-profile candidate.

“We’ll see, of course, first of all, if he gets the nomination and then if he can actually win in that riding.”

Saskatoon Meewasin has been held by the Sask. Party since 2011. Because Parent was a well-known and well-liked politician, the incumbent party is strong in the riding, Béland said.

“It will be an interesting test, if he is the nominee, for both Ryan Meili and the NDP.”

While Meili is still seen as a “controversial figure,” the bid may be encouraging for the NDP, as the party may potentially have a strong candidate in a riding considered Sask. Party territory, he said.

“Even within the NDP, there are people who really like him and there are people who think he might be too much on the left of the political spectrum.”

Under Saskatchewan legislation, a byelection must take place within six months after a seat becomes vacant. Therefore, this one must be held by May 29.

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